OCTOBER 2
1915: Fiddler Chubby Wise was born in Lake City, FL. A member of Bill Monroe’s band when he introduced bluegrass in 1945, Wise worked with Flatt & Scruggs and Hank Williams and spent 16 years as a member of Hank Snow’s band.
1927: Producer and record executive Aubrey Mayhew was born in Washington, D.C. He founded the Little Darlin’ label, overseeing Johnny Paycheck’s 1960s hits.
1945: Don McLean was born in New Rochelle, NY. A pop and folk artist best known for his recording of “American Pie,” McLean earned a country hit in 1981 with his remake of Roy Orbison’s “Crying.“
1948: Chris LeDoux was born in Biloxi, MS. A rodeo champion, he developed a music career with a gift for showmanship. Garth Brooks namechecks LeDoux in his debut single and sang on LeDoux’s 1992 hit “Whatcha Gonna Do With A Cowboy.”
1950: Songwriter Danny Mayo was born in Gadsden, AL. He wrote Confederate Railroad’s “Jesus And Mama,” Pirates Of The Mississippi’s “Feed Jake,” Alabama’s “If I Had You” and Tracy Byrd’s “The Keeper Of The Stars.”
1952: Shelia Shipley Biddy was born in Scottsville, KY. In 1993, she became the first woman named to head a major country label when MCA re-activated Decca.
1954: Elvis Presley made his only appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, singing “Blue Moon Of Kentucky” at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Opry manager Jim Denny allegedly told him not to give up his day job.
1964: Roger Miller recorded “Do-Wacka-Do” in Nashville.
1967: Singer/songwriter Gillian Welch was born in New York City. The earthy performer became an acclaimed member of the alternative country movement, appearing on the “Hope Floats” and “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtracks.
1970: Bill Anderson married his second wife, Becky Stegall Davis. The event inspired Ben Peters to write “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’.” Though the song was intended for Anderson, it became a hit for Charley Pride.
1972: United Artists released The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s album “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.” The project featured Roy Acuff, Jimmy Martin, Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Merle Travis, Vassar Clements, Junior Huskey, Norman Blake and Bashful Brother Oswald.
1976: Glen Campbell recorded “Southern Nights,” written by Allen Toussaint, at the Capitol Recording Studios in Los Angeles.
1977: A month after what appeared to be an attempt to steal the body of Elvis Presley from Forest Hill Cemetery, the bodies of Elvis and his mother, Gladys, were moved from the public cemetery. They now rest at the Presley mansion, Graceland.
1984: RCA released Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton’s “Once Upon A Christmas” album.
1990: MCA released Mark Chesnutt’s debut album, “Too Cold At Home.”
1991: Boudleaux and Felice Bryant became the first full time songwriters to join the Country Music Hall of Fame during the 25th annual Country Music Association awards in Nashville. They wrote “Bye Bye Love,” “Wake Up Little Susie” and “Rocky Top.”
1991: George Bush became the first president to attend the Country Music Association awards, where Garth Brooks won four trophies: Entertainer of the Year; Album (“No Fences“); Single (“Friends In Low Places“); and Music Video (“The Thunder Rolls“).
1996: Buck Owens, Ray Price and Patsy Montana entered the Country Music Hall of Fame during the Country Music Association Awards, held at the Grand Ole Opry House.
1996: George Strait took three trophies during the 30th annual Country Music Association awards, aired by CBS from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. Strait won Male Vocalist of the Year; Album, for “Blue Clear Sky“; and Single, for “Check Yes Or No.”
2009: Crystal Gayle’s star was installed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2012: William Morrow published Kenny Rogers’ autobiography, “Luck Or Something Like It.”
2017: Rocker Tom Petty died of cardiac arrest at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles following an accidental overdose of painkillers for multiple ailments, including a broken hip. The author of Rosanne Cash’s “Never Be You” and Roy Orbison’s “You Got It,” he sang on Hank Williams Jr.’s remake of “Mind Your Own Business.”
